Vikram Dodd
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Journalism is an act of faith in the future; I'm police and crime correspondent at The Guardian.Retweets are just what seems interesting, views my own.
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Articles by Vikram Dodd
British man arrested over suspected RAF Fairford terrorism plot
A seventh man has been arrested in London on suspicion of terrorism offences as part of the investigation related to threats to RAF Fairford, police have said. The 22-year-old British national was arrested in Westminster, central London, on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, counter-terrorism policing said.
British man arrested over suspected RAF Fairford terrorism plot
A seventh man has been arrested in London on suspicion of terrorism offences as part of the investigation related to threats to RAF Fairford, police have said. The 22-year-old British national was arrested in Westminster, central London, on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, counter-terrorism police said.
Two Iranian men charged over alleged terror plot targeting Manchester's Jewish community
Police say a man, most likely in Iran, was in contact with two Iranian nationals in Britain as part of a plot to get a bomb to attack Jewish targets in Manchester. The two men charged on Friday with planning acts of terrorism were arrested two Sundays ago in broad daylight in a Manchester street during the Jewish holiday period.
Two Iranian men charged over alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community
Two Iranian men have been charged in relation to an alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community. Rahman Salehi, 35, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, have been charged with preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism.
MI5 warns UK universities over 'theft of tech secrets by Chinese front company'
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MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese 'front company' stealing research
MI5 has issued a rare public warning to UK universities that China's intelligence service is using a front company to pay for research by UK academics and steal the secrets of hi-tech projects. Britain's domestic security service said researchers and academics should cease work with the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), sometimes also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT).
MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front company stealing research
China's intelligence service used a front company to pay grants to British universities and steal crucial research about technology projects, MI5 said on Wednesday in a rare public espionage warning. Britain's domestic security service said researchers and academics should cease work with the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), sometimes also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT). MI5 believes it poses a "significant threat".
Suspect in RAF Fairford case called police to report incident
One of the five men arrested near RAF Fairford as part of a terror investigation that prompted fears of an Iran-backed plot called the police to report the incident, it has emerged. The call from the man, in his 20s and from London, was one reason armed police were scrambled to arrest the men, who were with three vans close to the military base used by the US in its attacks on Iran.
No explosives found in three vans searched near RAF Fairford, say police
No explosive devices were found in three vans searched near RAF Fairford as part of a terrorism investigation but a quantity of petrol was recovered, police have said. Five British nationals were arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning after a resident living near the Gloucestershire airbase reported suspicious activity involving three vans.
Five arrested on terrorism charges after explosives found near RAF base used by US
Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Iran is behind a suspected bomb plot after armed officers found explosives on three vans parked minutes from an RAF base used by the US military. The Guardian understands that after five men were arrested on terrorism charges, investigators were examining materials found in the vans, with an initial view being they were consistent with improvised explosive devices.
Suspect in ‘Putney pusher’ case found dead at his west London home
A senior city banker suspected of pushing a woman into the path of a moving bus in the “Putney pusher” case has been found dead. Nicholas Brandram, 44, was discovered at his home in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday. He was arrested in June by the Metropolitan police in connection with a 2017 incident in which a jogger running across Putney Bridge pushed a woman towards an oncoming bus. She only avoided serious injury after the driver swerved around her at the last moment.
Jason Arday, professor at centre of Cambridge plagiarism row, found dead
Jason Arday, the black academic who resigned last week as a professor at the University of Cambridge , has been found dead at his home in south London. The Metropolitan police said officers were called to Arday's address by the London ambulance service after 3pm on Friday. A spokesperson for the Met said: “A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
Hackers steal sensitive data from UK Department for Education and police
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Hackers steal sensitive data from Department for Education and police
The Department for Education and a police database have been targeted by a cyber-attack, exposing more than 740,000 pieces of data. Details of government officials, senior school leaders, university staff, police officers and members of the public have been taken by hackers. Just over 600,000 lines of data have been stolen from the DfE's help-desk portal.
Man arrested on suspicion of posting social media threat to shoot Nigel Farage
A man has been arrested on suspicion of publishing a message on social media in which he threatened to shoot Nigel Farage. The Metropolitan police arrested a man in his 20s on Tuesday after the post was reported to them by the parliamentary authorities in May. Farage has claimed the police have not taken death threats against MPs seriously enough and has called for more money to be spent on security for politicians.
Ann Widdecombe killing: police investigating possible leftwing motivation
The police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing, the Guardian has learned. Among issues detectives are investigating are whether a hatred of Widdecombe's strong views, such as on homosexuality, was a factor. They are also examining whether extreme hostility to the Reform UK party played a role.
George and Fiona Cottrell understood to have been interviewed under caution by Met Police
Nigel Farage's aide George Cottrell and his mother, Fiona Cottrell, have been interviewed under criminal caution by Scotland Yard detectives, the Guardian understands. The interviews are understood to form part of an ongoing investigation into donations to Reform UK before the general election in July 2024. Both Cottrell, known as “posh George”, and his mother were invited for interview by detectives from the Metropolitan police's special inquiry team.
UK sexual predator who blackmailed Muslim men online jailed for 16 years
A sexual predator who targeted mostly Muslim males online for blackmail has been jailed for 16 years, with detectives fearing he may have up to 70 more victims. Waleed Saeed's campaign of entrapment, threat and extortion started in 2018 and left one victim feeling suicidal because of the humiliation they felt. Police said the 31-year-old targeted people from culturally conservative backgrounds to exploit any shame they may feel during a six-year campaign of offending.
Elon Musk’s X not facing action from UK government over posts inciting violence in Belfast
Peter Walker, Hannah Al-Othman, Rory Carroll and Vikram Dodd Wed, June 10, 2026 at 7:54 p.m. UTC 6 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Elon Musk has rejected claims he incited disorder in Belfast.Photograph: David Swanson/Reuters Elon Musk's X will face no action to remove a mass of posts inciting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months despite widespread condemnation of the platform and its billionaire owner.
How did the notion of ‘two-tier policing’ evolve, and does it really exist?
The US government has joined criticism of alleged two-tier policing in the UK in the wake of Henry Nowak's murder. How did the term enter the mainstream, and is there any basis for the claim? The term, which suggests police deal more harshly with white people than other ethnic groups, first came to prominence through its use by people on the far right.
Police chief warns anti-white bias claims could drive UK policing ‘back to 60s’
Policing could be driven back to the 1960s by false claims officers are biased against white people, the leader of Britain's black officers has said. Ch Insp Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association, spoke out amid growing concerns that politicians such as Nigel Farage were stoking tensions around the murder of teenager Henry Nowak by making baseless and provocative claims.
Starmer urges calm as far right seeks to exploit Henry Nowak murder
Politicians and community leaders have called for calm amid fears that the populist right is using the murder of Henry Nowak by a Sikh man to whip up racist resentment against minority ethnic Britons. After Nigel Farage called for the public to respond with “pure, cold rage”, Keir Starmer condemned the Reform UK leader, saying Nowak’s family had explicitly asked that the case not be used to target particular communities.
Teenage boys who raped and sexually assaulted girls walk free from court with £26 fines
Three teenage boys convicted of the rape and serious sexual assault of girls as young as 14 walked free from court with fines of £26 each and rehabilitation orders, the Guardian has learned. The three separate cases all took place over the past year in north-east England. They were tried under youth court rules that deal with suspects aged 17 or under and place a greater emphasis on rehabilitation than adult courts.
Police appeal for information about alleged sexual misconduct in Andrew investigation
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent Police investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor want witnesses to contact them if they believe they have information about alleged sexual misconduct, corruption, fraud or the sharing of confidential information involving the king's brother. In a sign of the potential expansion of their “unprecedented investigation”, Thames Valley police vowed to rigorously investigate claims against the former Prince Andrew.
Surrey police launch investigation into UK Epstein abuse allegations
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent Surrey police have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse after two women came forward to say they were the victims of attacks in Britain detailed in the Epstein files. The force said the claims dated back to the 1980s and 1990s, with one in Surrey and allegations concerning Berkshire understood to relate to the Windsor estate.
Police to seek criminal charges against 77 companies and people over Grenfell fire
Vikram Dodd and Jessica Murray Scotland Yard has said it hopes to bring criminal charges against 77 companies and individuals for the Grenfell Tower fire, but trials will not start until a decade after the disaster that killed 72 people. The Guardian understands a king's counsel, a senior lawyer experienced in prosecutions, has been appointed to lead the crown's criminal cases, which are expected to be complex and possibly last years.
Police to seek criminal charges against 77 companies and people over Grenfell fire
Scotland Yard has said it hopes to bring criminal charges against 77 companies and individuals for the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, in which 72 people died. The lead investigator, Garry Moncrieff, said his team of 220 detectives had gathered “strong evidence” of potential wrongdoing. Police said they were sending a series of files of evidence to prosecutors later this year seeking a decision on whether criminal trials should be held.
Met arrests 43 people at Unite the Kingdom rally and pro-Palestine march
Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally failed to get the huge numbers it wanted to march through London, with police confident less than half joined his protest on Saturday compared with an event last year. The far-right protest came on the same day as a pro-Palestinian march, and the Metropolitan police said that 43 arrests had been made at both events.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy
British police are preparing to mount one of their largest scale operations in recent memory with more than 100,000 protesters set to march through the streets of London on the same day as the FA Cup final in Wembley. The Guardian understands that officers in vast swathes of central London will be granted extra powers in order to police the far-right Unite the Kingdom march organised by Stephen Yaxley Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson.
Police investigate suspected arson attack at former synagogue in east London
A forensic investigator walks past the fire-damaged gates of the former East London Central Synagogue in Tower Hamlets. Photograph: Lucy North/PA Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether a fire at a former synagogue in east London is part of an arson campaign linked to Iran. Police said the latest fire broke out at the building on Nelson Street, in Tower Hamlets. It has Hebrew lettering on its exterior and a Star of David at its entrance, which was protected by a gate.
Man charged with attempted murder in connection with Golders Green attack
Jamie Grierson and Vikram Dodd Essa Suleiman has been charged with attempted murder after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north-west London, the Metropolitan police has said. The 45-year-old faces three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place. Officers were called to the area shortly after 11am on Wednesday after reports that two men had been stabbed.
PM vows to act against people 'venerating the murder of Jews' as terror threat level rises
Rowena Mason, Vikram Dodd and Helena Horton Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on those “venerating the murder of Jews” at protest marches as the UK terror threat level was raised to “severe” in the wake of the Golders Green attack. The prime minister promised to do “everything in our power to stamp this hatred out” after meeting emergency workers and community leaders near the scene in north-west London where two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday.
PM vows to act against people ‘venerating the murder of Jews’ as terror threat level raised
Rowena Mason and Vikram Dodd Thu, April 30, 2026 at 6:40 p.m. UTC 7 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Starmer met community leaders in Golders Green after the attack.Photograph: James Smith/Sam Snap/Getty Images (Photograph: James Smith/Sam Snap/Getty Images) Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on those “venerating the murder of Jews” at protest marches as the UK terror threat level was raised to severe in the wake of the Golders Green attack.
UK terrorism threat level raised to 'severe' after Golders Green attack
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent The UK terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe” by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre after the Golders Green stabbings, meaning a terror attack is thought to be “highly likely”. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, described Wednesday's attack as a vile act of terrorism. “Today, the national threat level has increased to ‘severe', which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely,” she said.
Golders Green attack suspect named as Essa Suleiman, 45
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent The suspect in the Golders Green attack was referred to Prevent, the official counter-extremism scheme, and cleared of being a terrorist danger six years before two Jewish men were stabbed. His case was referred to Prevent in 2020 and closed within six weeks by the deradicalisation scheme, which has faced previous criticism for being ineffective. The Guardian understands that the suspect's name is Essa Suleiman.
Police treating stabbing of two men in Golders Green as terrorism
Police are treating the stabbing of two men in Golders Green, north London, as terrorism, with the suspect described as having been hunting for anyone “visibly Jewish” to attack. The stabbings, which happened just after 11am on Wednesday, follow a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in London since March, including two previous incidents in Golders Green. The victims, aged 76 and 34, are said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
US won't give unredacted Epstein documents to UK police without formal request
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent British police investigating the former prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson are preparing to start interviewing witnesses in royal and government circles. It comes as police fear that prosecutors will be “reluctant” to bring charges unless the Trump administration agrees to hand over the original documents from the Epstein files.
Seven more arrested after arson attacks on London Jewish sites
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent Detectives investigating a series of attacks on Jewish targets have arrested seven people for allegedly plotting a further new firebombing, as a teenager pleaded guilty to an arson attack on a synagogue on Saturday. The arrests by counter-terrorism officers follow fire bombings or attempted arson of synagogues and other Jewish targets across London.
Counter-terror police investigate London arson attacks on Iranian and Jewish targets
Matthew Weaver and Vikram Dodd Counter-terrorism investigators are examining three separate arson attacks in London against an Iranian dissident and Jewish targets amid fears the Iranian state may be behind them. The latest attack happened at about 8.30pm on Wednesday, outside the offices of Iran International, a Persian-language news channel that opposes the regime in Tehran. The Metropolitan police said an “ignited container” had been thrown at a car park at the company's offices in Wembley.
‘Overwhelmed' Prevent at risk of missing threats as referrals rise, UK counter-terror chief says
The scheme meant to identify people before they become terrorists is being “overwhelmed” by a large surge in referrals, Britain's head of counterterrorism has said. Assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor told the Guardian that more than 10,000 people would be referred to Prevent this year, up more than a third from two years ago.
‘The police can't do it alone': head of police watchdog on how to cut crime
The best way to stop people becoming criminals is to reduce poverty, target prevention strategies at young people and increase opportunity, his majesty's chief inspector of constabulary has said. Sir Andy Cooke, who is preparing to leave his post and retire after 40 years in policing, told the Guardian that his decades of experience had taught him that crime was a “symptom of deeper societal failures”.
MI5 apologises and pays compensation to woman allegedly abused by agent
MI5 has apologised and paid compensation to a woman who alleged the Security Service was to blame for her being attacked with a machete and abused by one of its agents. The woman, known only as Beth, was in a relationship with a man she says used his status as an MI5 agent to perpetrate abuse and terrorise her into silence. The agent was being used to infiltrate the far right and it is alleged his past violence against women had been reported to a police force overseas.
Proposed law change will protect abusive men who push women to suicide, campaigners warn
Men whose abusive behaviour drives women to take their own lives are more likely to get away with their crimes because of proposed law changes, justice campaigners say. Ministers want to make it harder for inquests to pass verdicts of unlawful killing, which have been crucial in getting justice for women who killed themselves after suffering abuse. In October last year, Georgia Barter was found to have been unlawfully killed after suffering a decade of domestic violence and abuse.
Peter Mandelson released from bail conditions
Police have released Peter Mandelson from his bail conditions after deciding he was not a flight risk, the Guardian has learned. Sources say the Metropolitan police have decided to drop the conditions they applied after arresting him on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month, though he remains under investigation.
Head of Police Federation of England and Wales arrested on suspicion of corruption
The head of the Police Federation of England and Wales has been arrested on suspicion of corruption. Officers from the City of London police arrested Mukund Krishna and two other national board members. The arrests followed an investigation into allegations of financial wrongdoing at the PFEW, which represents 130,000 officers across the country. Krishna, a former management consultant, was appointed the PFEW's first chief executive in 2024 and is reported to be paid more than £320,000 a year.
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